Rival Palestinian factions have clashed for the fourth straight day in the Gaza Strip. At least 16 Palestinians were killed, bringing the death toll to at least 40 since Friday. As Robert Berger reports from VOA’s Jerusalem bureau, Palestinian militants also launched a wave of rocket attacks against Israel.

A Palestinian security force officer stands in the damaged house of Fatah security chief Rashid Abu Shbak after it was attacked by Hamas militants in Gaza City, 16 May 2007

Gunmen from the Islamic militant group Hamas attacked the home of a security chief from the rival Fatah faction in Gaza City. They fired mortars and threw pipe bombs and then stormed the building, killing six Fatah bodyguards.

Hours later, policemen loyal to Fatah arrested five Hamas men, but as they drove them through town the vehicle was ambushed by Hamas fighters. Officials say five Hamas men in the car were killed, along with two more from Fatah.

Each side is blaming the other for the violence.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told Israel Radio that Fatah gunmen started the latest round of fighting when they ambushed a car carrying a senior Hamas official who had helped mediate a cease-fire.

The quick collapse of the third ceasefire in as many days has raised fears of civil war.

Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti also said on Israel Radio that the public has lost confidence in the cease-fires. He warned that if Gaza turns into Somalia, the Palestinian cause will suffer a setback lasting for decades.

Hamas militants also fired rockets across the border, terrorizing the nearby town of Sderot. Israel responded with a rare air strike. But Israeli officials have ruled out a major assault on Gaza, saying it would unify the Palestinians and play into the hands of Hamas.

AP, GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP
Sunday, May 13, 2007, Page 6
Hamas gunmen opened fire on Friday on forces of the rival Fatah, injuring at least six people throughout the Gaza Strip, in another setback to a new security plan aimed at halting the wave of violence plaguing the chaotic coastal area.

With 10 Palestinians wounded over a two-day period, it was the worst factional fighting since the formation of the Hamas-Fatah unity government nearly two months ago.

Despite the growing tensions, it is unlikely the coalition would break apart soon, since neither party can govern alone or is eager to go to elections.

Later on Friday, six members of Hamas’ militia were wounded in a family feud that appeared unrelated to its rivalry with Fatah, Palestinian security officials said.

The factional tensions flared again on Thursday, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the deployment of about 3,000 police in Gaza City. The troops took up positions at main intersections and government buildings.

Hamas was upset that Abbas, the Fatah leader, has not coordinated the new deployment with them. On Friday, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh canceled a scheduled meeting with senior security commanders, in an apparent show of displeasure.

Despite the renewed tensions, Abbas was to leave Gaza for the West Bank on Saturday.

After many months of clashes between the sides some Gazans are skeptical that the new police deployment would stem the unrest.

“They look good. But can they do anything? I doubt that very much,” Badar Salim, 45, a Gaza City merchant said. “I hope this is something real, not just a show for the media.”

The plan includes a joint operations room to be staffed by members of various security forces as well a joint security unit, said Ghazi Hamad, Haniyeh’s spokesman. Hamad also said security commanders would hold meetings with leaders of Gaza’s political parties and militant groups to maintain calm.

“Lawlessness and chaos have become very dangerous in Gaza, and all the participants are determined to end the chaos and restore security,” he said.

Friday’s clashes began before dawn, when a minibus filled with Hamas gunmen opened fire at a Fatah security force manning a new roadblock. Palestinian medical officials said at least four people were wounded in this exchange.
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NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon/GAZA: Syrian forces have killed four members of Palestinian group Fatah al-Islam trying to sneak across the border to join the insurgency in Iraq, the group said on Friday.

A spokesman for Fatah al-Islam, who gave his name as Abu Salim, told AFP that the incident occurred on the Syrian border with Iraq almost a week ago, and that five Syrian soldiers were killed in the clash.

“The Syrian forces killed two military chiefs of Fatah al-Islam, Abu Laith al-Shami and Abu Abdel Rahman al-Shami, as well as two combatants,” said the spokesman, who is based in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon.

They were killed, he added, “while trying to get into Iraq to support their Islamic brothers.” Syria has not immediately reported the deaths nor confirmed the claimed clash. The United States frequently accuses Syria of allowing insurgents to cross into Iraq through its porous border and of having a hand in insurgent attacks in Iraq.

Damascus denies the claims and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday dismissed them as little more than scapegoating.

The Syrian leader added that in lodging the accusations, US officials “want to absolve themselves from the responsibility,” for the continuing violence in Iraq.

Spokesman Abu Salim did not give the nationality of those killed but from the nom de guerres of the two military chiefs they could be Syrian — al-Shami is Arabic for Damascus.

In a related development, Hamas-run television defied Israel and the Palestinian government on Friday by airing a ‘controversial’ children’s show with a Mickey Mouse look-alike preaching resistance and Islamic domination.

Israel and Jewish groups have slammed the Al-Aqsa television channel for allowing the copycat mouse “Farfur” and a girl co-star to urge resistance against Israel and the United States, and for its overtly Islamist message.

Padded out with Islamic songs and calling cities in Israel part of Palestine, Friday’s episode apparently sought to prepare children for their end-of-year examinations.

Asked by an Al-Aqsa reporter why he looked around to see what his friends were writing, Farfur — whose name means butterfly — answered:

“Because the Jews destroyed my home and I left my books and notes under the rubble. I’m calling on all children to read more and more to prepare for exams because the Jews don’t want us to learn,” said Farfur who failed the test.

Broadcast weekly for an hour, the show also featured a short film recalling the anguish of little girl Huda Ghalya, whose family was killed on a Gaza beach last June in a blast for which Israel denied responsibility.

“Anyone who wants to go to the sea will be killed,” said Farfur. “Yes Farfur, but also they killed her family because we are Palestinian,” interjected reporter Hazem Sharawi, before calling for Islamic rule and for Spain to be returned to Muslim rule as after the 8th century ‘Moorish invasion’.

“Palestine will return free and Andalus will return soon. Hello Egypt, Damascus and Algeria. Islam will return for all whole world,” he said.

Friday’s show also taught tomorrow’s pioneers that the cities of Jaffa, Haifa and Acre, in modern-day Israel, in addition to Jerusalem, belong to their country. Songs are sung about Palestine and about facing the enemy.

Friday’s broadcast came after the Palestinian information ministry asked Al-Aqsa to withdraw the programme for review, but minister Mustafa Barghuti said he would reserve judgement until watching the latest installment. “They have said they will change it and improve it, and we will see,” he told AFP.

Meanwhile, Palestinian shootings wounded 10 people in the Gaza Strip on Friday, one day after security forces deployed in a contested first phase of a new flagship crackdown, security sources said.

Eight Palestinians, including civilians and security officers from agencies controlled by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and dominated by his Fatah party, were wounded in shootouts in Gaza City.

Another two civilians were hurt when militants from the armed wing of senior government coalition partner Hamas opened fire in hazy circumstances in the refugee camp of Jabaliya, north of Gaza City.

A national security service officer was captured by unknown assailants in Gaza City, while clashes elsewhere were reported between Hamas and members of the Fatah-dominated intelligence service.